Improvement in electrical machines



E. S. BLAKE.

Electrical Apparatus.

No. 5,485. Patented March 28, 1848.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDNV. S. BLAKE, OF RESERVE TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA.

IMPROVEMENT lN ELECTRICAL MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 5,485, dated March 28,1848.

To all urhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwn. S. BLAKE, of Reserve township, in Alleghenycounty, of the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in the Apparatus for Exciting and AccumulatingElectricity by friction and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part ofthis specification, which drawing gives a perspective view of myimproved apparatus.

The essential characteristic of my improvement consists in employing,for the electric, a tube or cylinder of glass supported by a fixedrubber which surrounds it, and in which it is to be moved back and forthin the direction of its axis, in distinction from the usual'method ofemploying a glass cylinder or disk mounted upon gudgeons or journalssupported in a frame and revolving about its axis. By means of thisdevice I am enabled to reduce the several parts of the apparatus to suchform that they can be made at much less expense and packed in a case ofmuch smaller dimensions than the apparatus heretofore in use.

In the accompanying drawing, 8 sis the section of a common table onwhich the machine is supposed to stand, and to which it is secured bymeans of the common screw-clamp w.

i k l is the base or pedestal of the machine. This pedestal consists ofa piece of wood or other material of sufficient length and breadth toinsure the requisite stability, and is firmly secured to the upper jawof the clamp which is let into its under side.

f is the insulating supporter of the rubber, consisting of a strongpiece of glass rod or tubing the lower end of which is inserted andfirmly cemented into the pedestal. d is the rubber. This consists ofaband of thin metal, about three-fourths of an inch larger in diameterthan the electric. A suitable quantity of elastic stuffing is placedaround the inside of the band to produce the requisite pressure upon theelectric, and the whole is then covered inside and outside, first withcloth, and then with silk, and the silk is coated with the usualamalgam. The band is provided with a sockct, e, to receive the upper endof the supporter, f, which is firmly cemented into this socket. It isalso provided with another socket, a,

into which a piece of glass tubing, 0, is inserted and firmly cemented.The tube 0 serves as the insulating supporter of the conductingwires,prime conductor, 850.

m m is the electric, which consists of a piece of com mon glass tubing,having its ends closed by stoppers cemented in, for the purpose ofexcluding dust, &c.

A is a brass ball provided with a projecting pivot, which is insertedand cemented into the upper end of the supporter c. is perforated,horizontally, in a direction parallel to the electric. Theconducting-wire b b is passed through this perforation. It is of suchsize as to turn freely in it, and a short bend is made in the wire oneach side of the ball to prevent it from moving longitudinally. Each endof thewire is bent downward, and made to terminate in a coil surroundingthe electric, and at the distance of about two inches from the rubber.The coilis of about one-half an inch greater diameter than the electric,and is wound with thread or tape to keep it from rattling upon orscratching the electric. If preferred, the ends of the wire may bebrought to an acute point and bent down so as to hang very near thesurface of the electric. The brass ball A is also semi-perforatedhorizontally in a direction transverse to the electric, for the purposeof receiving the stem or pivot of the prime conductor.

19 0 is the prime conductor, consisting of a brass ball, 19, into whichthe wire 0 is inserted, and secured at one end. The other end is screwedinto the last named perforationin the ball A. The ball A is alsosemi-perforated vertically from the top, for the purpose of receivingthe standard of an electrometer, or the pivot of a larger primeconductor, made in the usual form, if desired.

t is a loop upon the socket e to receive the chain which conveys theelectricity to the rubber from the floor. (or outside of the jar) inaccumulating positive electricity, or from an insulated body inelectrifying negatively.

To operate this machine, the electric is to be held by the hand at oneend, and passed back and forth from six to ten inches through therubber, the chain being arranged in the usual manner in reference to thestate of electrical excitement to be produced, whether positive ornegative.

Having thus described my improved elec- This brass ball trical machine,I will now add that I have contemplated furnishing an insulating handleto the electric. I have contemplated regulating the pressure of therubber upon the electric, by making the rubber-band in two pieces to bedrawn toward each other by screws or otherwise, or by em ploying one ormore curved pieces of metal interposed between theband and stuffing,which may be pressed upon the stuffing by screws passing through theband, or by other suitable means. I have also contemplated the insertionof wire into the caliber of the supporter f, in such manner that one endmay be in contact with the rubber band, and the other with thescrew-clamp, but so that it can be readily removed at pleasure. Then,inelectrifying positively, thechai n may behooked into the head of thescrew of the clamp, and in electrifying negatively the inserted wire isto be removed, and the chain is to be hooked into the loop t, as beforedescribed. I have also contemplated the employment of two or moreseparate rubbers at the distance of about twelve inches asunder, eachsustained upon a separate insulating supporter inserted into the same ordifferent pedestals, for the purpose of increasing the effect, and ofpreserving more perfectly the linear direction of the motion of theelectric.

In stating my claim, I am aware that in electrical experiments it hasbeen common to use a glass tube to excite electricity by holding it inthe hand, and passing it back and forth through a rubber held in theother hand. I am also aware that fixed rubbers and conductingwires areused in conjunction with cylindrical electrics revolving on their axesin common electrical machines. I do not, therefore, claim these things,severally, as my invention in the above-described machine, but- What 1do claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The employment of atubular or cylindrical electric moving in the direction of its axis, incombination with a fixed rubber, embracing, supporting, and guiding thesame, and in further combination with the conducting-wires, the samebeing constructed and operating substantially as herein described.

EDW. S. BLAKE.

Witnesses:

J NO. E. PARKE, HENRY HANNEN.

